149 
cult for Roses to grow where the air was filled with 
smoke. “But even here,” she added, “ I have my 
troubles. I wish the lady-birds would come and 
eat up these insects.” At that moment a lady¬ 
bird, with a dark violet-colored head, that shone like 
a ruby, crawled up the stem of the Rose-tree. The 
flower was thankful to see her, but the lady-bird 
did not stop to catch the insects that troubled the 
Rose, but jumped from one branch to another as if 
in pursuit of something. Mary could not help think¬ 
ing she was chasing a pretty yellow butterfly that was 
flying about among the Roses, though what she could 
want of her it was difficult to imagine,—when all 
at once the little creature, who was very large and 
strong, however, for a lady-bird, jumped upon the 
back of the unsuspecting butterfly, and bore her 
away into the air.”* 
* This is a fact. 
